EC preparing recommendations for S’wak redelineation exercise, says Azalina

PETALING JAYA: The Election Commission (EC) is in the final stage of preparing recommendations for Sarawak’s redelineation exercise, says law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said.

In a written parliamentary reply, Azalina said the EC had taken into account the bill approved by the Sarawak assembly and brought into force on Aug 8, 2025.

“Based on input received from the EC, the eight-year interval (for Sarawak’s redelineation) ended on Aug 21, 2023.

“At present, the EC is in the final stage of preparing recommendations for the redelineation of Sarawak’s electoral boundaries, taking into account the addition of 17 state seats approved by the Sarawak assembly,” she said.

Azalina said the EC would display the recommendations in the near future, marking the official start of the redelineation exercise under Article 113(9) of the Federal Constitution.

She said the EC would have up to two years from the date the official notice is published to complete the review, in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

However, she stopped short of saying that the exercise would be completed before the dissolution of the Sarawak assembly.

She was responding to Betong MP Richard Rapu, who asked whether the government could guarantee that the EC would complete the redelineation exercise before the Sarawak assembly was dissolved.

Richard said the continued use of the existing 82 seats would not only go against Sarawak’s legislative decision, but also deny the urgent development needs of large rural constituencies.

Sarawak last held its state election in December 2021. Its current assembly term ends in February 2027, unless the assembly is dissolved earlier. Hence, the state must hold its next election by April 2027 at the latest.

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg previously said the election was expected to proceed using the existing 82 seats if the 17 additional seats were not approved in time by the EC.